水落石出
有人照字直譯為:As the water level sinks,the stones are exposed.
這樣說,恐怕老外還是聽不懂。他們的說法是:
All secrets may eventually come to light. (所有祕密最后總會曝光。)
也可以說:
Eventually, every secret will be disclosed.
·一桶水搖不響,半桶水響叮當(dāng)
有人照字面譯成:The full pot of water makes no sound; the half-empty pot of water is noisy.
老外聽后,也許會感到困惑。他們有自己的說法:
A little knowledge (or learning) can be (or is) dangerous.(一知半解很危險)
或者說:
Still water runs deep.(靜水深不可測)
也可以說:
He who knows the most says the least.(懂得越多的人,反而說得越少。)
至于“大智若愚”,通常可以這么說:
A truly wise person does not show off his (her) ability.(真正聰明的人,是不會顯要自己的能力)
·這山望到那山高
有人譯成:The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.(意思是:墻那邊的蘋果最甜)
當(dāng)然,如要譯成:
If you stand on a mountain, you feel the distant mountain seems higher than yours. 老外也勉強能接受。
而他們的最習(xí)慣說法是:
The grass always looks greener on the other side.(另一邊的草,看來總是綠些。)
·烈火煉真金,患難見真情
有人譯成:Fire is the test of gold;adversity is the test of friendship.
這句譯文,雖然很好,老外也能了解,但是他們還有另外的說法:
Liquor brings out a person's true color.(烈酒能顯示一個人真正的特色)
或者說:
Wine reveals a person's true heart.
雖然老外不用“烈火煉真金”的比喻,但有“路遙知馬力”的說法:
By a long road, we know a horse's strength;at times of difficulty, we discover a friend's true character.
·雷聲大,雨點小
有人譯為:
The thunder roars loudly, but little rain falls. 或者說:All we hear is thunder, but no rain falls.
雖然這樣直譯比較容易理解,但是老外的說法是這樣的:
Actions speak louder than words. (行動勝于言談)
或All we hear is words, but there is no action. (只動嘴不動手)
或Actions and words should go hand in hand. (言行必須一致)
另外,還有英語里還有這樣的說法:
An empty barrel makes biggest sound.(空洞的話說得太多了。)
·人不可貌相,海水不可斗量
有人譯為:
A man can not be known by his look, nor can the ocean be measured by a dipper.
這樣的譯法只是直譯,如果能夠稍加修改,老外就能了解:
A man can not be judged by his appearance, nor can the water in the sea be measured by a bucket.
不過,老外通常的說法是這樣的:
We can not judge a person by appearance only. 或 You can not judge a book by its cover.
(意思是:一本書的好壞取決于它的內(nèi)容,而不是它的封面裝幀的漂亮與否。)
·口蜜腹劍,笑里藏刀
有人譯為 His mouth is honey; his heart is a sword.
外國人聽了會對這樣的比喻摸不著頭腦,如果要形容某人“口蜜腹劍,笑里藏刀”,我們可以說 with honey on one's lip and murder in one's heart, 或者 honey-mouthed but dagger-hearted.也可以更直接的譯成He is an evil man who has a mouth that praises and a hand that kills.
趕緊學(xué)完去說給你的小伙伴聽吧~